I was asked this question the other day and I know nothing about B/Ts but I am curious:
If the tan-markings in young B/T pups are sort of greyish does that mean the tan markings wil be darker(richer /rusty) or lighter ( more yellowish)when pup grows up? Or will they just stay greyish?
Any wholecolour-specialists out there? :)

ice-cavi

15th August 2008, 04:28 PM

Well you dont have to be a specialist:D maybe...just experienced with B/Ts :confused:

Karlin

15th August 2008, 04:45 PM

Pups of what age? Tricolours' tan markings stay pretty much the same as they were at 8 weeks or so, going by the ones I've seen mature, so I'd guess they will stay the colour they are in a B&T too as they are basically the same dog (a tri is a B&T with white overmarkings). But that is just a guess!

Arlene

15th August 2008, 05:41 PM

The tan markings in a black/tan or tricolor are there because it is the only place in the coat that phaeomelanin is allowed to show. That same phaeomelanin is what causes the red coat in the blenheim and ruby pups. I know that in many, many rubies and blenheims the phaeomelanin color darkens or brightens a bit with age. It should also work that way with the black/tan-tricolors but as I don't raise pups (just study genetics) I hope others who have can comment.

I think it is interesting that in some breeds the tan "pips" are black at birth and the color comes in later. In these breeds it is because the tanned areas are black tipped on their black and tans - (similarly to how sable dogs often have black tips).

I have heard of this in a Cavalier pup or two from breeders. It makes sense as it still often happens in Cockers and Papillons. I believe it has generally been bred away from in our breed, as the colors are supposed to be clear.

Sometimes the tan appears "muddy" with unclear distinctions as well, and that usually doesn't change.

ice-cavi

15th August 2008, 06:51 PM

Sometimes the tan appears "muddy" with unclear distinctions as well, and that usually doesn't change.

Ok,but can you be sure that a"muddy" puppy a couple of weeks old will stay "muddy" or is it too soon to tell ? Will it be safer to predict once the pup has turned say 8 weeks?
Many rubies are born light but often they will turn ruby-red later on.

ice-cavi

15th August 2008, 06:53 PM

I have a B/T and her markings may be a little darker but not much.

Amber is lovely.:luv: Allways fun to see a puppypic and a grown-upp pic of the same dog. They do change alot and yet they don´t:)

LESLEY

15th August 2008, 09:21 PM

I have whole colours and yes the tan will darken off a little but not much. I have a friend who had a litter of B/T who were all born with sooty faces which had cleared by the time they were 6 months old.
Lesley and girls

Karlin

16th August 2008, 01:31 PM

Just a reminder to folks to please try and select slightly smaller image sizes when posting pics. Not everyone has broadband or a large screen PC and larger pics make for long downloads, stalled PCs and hard to view images on small screens. :thmbsup:

Am looking into setting a max size for images to help make the site easy to view for all our members around the world. :thmbsup: